Means for delivering and registering tickets or checks.



.N 69324|4. 1 Patel'lfd Feb'. I8, |902.

A.. MARSH. MEANSFUR DELIVEBING AND REGISTERING TICKETS 0R CHEGKS. (Appneeion med occ. 2e, 1h99.) (No Model.) 4Shees-.Sheet l.

. Y nu Weaaea No. 693,4l4. Patented Feb. |8, |9o2.

A MARSH. v l

MEANS FOR DELIVERlNANB"RESTEBING IISKET-S 0B CHECKS.

(Applieac'ion med'oce. 2e, 1899.)

(No Modem 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Q@ ,4mm

N0. 693,4I4. Patented Feb. 18 1902.

, A. MARSH.. 4 V MEANS EUR DELIVEBINGAND REGISTEBING TICKETSOR CHECKS.

(Application med oct. 26, 181m) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 693,4l4.

A. MARSH.

MEANS FUR DEL'IVERING AND REGlSTE-RING TICKETS 0R (IH-EGKS.

(Application mamon. 2s; 1899.)

E Nonms Ps'rzns oo. PMo'To-LITHDY, MmswNsTaN, p, c.

r:ay Angry #754/32 UNITED STATES ALBERT MARSH,` or

PATENT OFFICE.

LONDON, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR DELIVERING AND REGISTERING TICKETS OR CHECKS.

SPEGIFKGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 693,414, dated February 18, 1902. Application filed October 26, 1899. Serial No. 734,874. A(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern..-j

Be it known that I, ALBERT MARSH, a subject of the Queen of lGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at the Eccentric Club, Shaftes- 5 bury avenue, London, E., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Delivering and Registering Tickets or Checks for Theaters, Halls, Athletic and Race Grounds, and other Places of Public Entertainment, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to apparatus for delivering tickets or checks for theaters, halls, athletic and race grounds, and other places of public entertainment and for registering and indicating electrically at a distance the tickets so delivered.

In order that this invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings, on which- Figure l is a sectional View of one of the magazines detached from the delivery-machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the magazines detached from the delivery-m achine, taken on a plane at right angles to the sectional plane of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of same on line A B ,Fig 1, the tickets and weight being supposed re' moved. Fig. 4 is a section on line C D, Fig. 2, of thevbottom plate of the magazine. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the delivery-machine, taken on line E F, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same,the magazine being removed. Fig. 7 is an underneath plan of the same, the bottom plate being supposed to be removed. Fig.- Sis a detail view of part of the delivery-machine.v Fig. 9 shows the device employed for lifting the weight into and out of the magazine. Fig. l0 is a general viewof the indicator. Fig. ll is a front elevation, partly in section, of the indicating mechanism; and

Fig. 12, a plan of the same.

Referring first to'Figs. l to 4, the magazine consists of a caseA of size adapted to contain, say, two hundred and fifty tickets or checks. The front A of the case A slides in grooves a and is provided with a lock B at its lower end, the bolt b of .which normally projects.

5o No key is provided for this lock,and it cannot be operated until the magazine is placedjon the delivering-machine. The sliding front A does not t quite to the bottom of the case A, so that an opening is formed of just sufficient size to admit of the passage of a ticket or check. This opening is, however, closed by the bolt b, and until the lock B is operated to unlock it-that is, until the magazine is properly placed on the delivering-machinemno tickets or checks can be removed from the magazine. The bottom plate C is formed with a slot c, and a side slot c' is also provided, into which the bolt b can fit. Depressions c2 are formed in the said plate,.and in them spring-plates c3, having turned-over ends c4, are fitted. (See Fig. 4:.) These serve to prevent the returnof a ticket or check to the magazine through the opening when the magazine is nearly empty and it would be possible to force up the tickets therein. The back of themagazine is recessed back at a behind the slot c, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

At each side of the case A a toothed rack f D is attached by screws, the teeth being of` pitch equal to the thickness of the ticket or cheek in use. The tickets or checks E are flat pieces of suitable material, of square,(in this instance,) round, or other shape, and a weight Frests upon them,pressing them down as the bottom ticket or check is removed. This weight Fis provided with an extension f, and two arms ff' are pivoted atf2, their outer ends being adapted to engage in the teeth of the rack D. A spring f3 presses upon lsaid arms ff and keeps them in engagement with the rack. The weight F falls as each ticket is issued, and as the arms f f are in engagement with the teeth of the rack Dl it willkbe understood that this provides an additional guard against insertion of a ticket or check through the deliveryopenings. Small grooves f1f4 are formed in the arms j" f to allow of closing the arms together, so that the weight. Fcan be lifted out of the case lA, by means of a key G. (Shown in Fig. 8.) The key is formed of bent wire or the like and is provided with the arms g g, having turned-up e1idsfg'g',which iit under the arms ff of the weight F in the grooves.' As the weight thereof comes on thekey G the arms ff' close together sufficiently to escape the teeth of the rack D.

A lock is provided at the top of the case A,

by which the front A/ is locked to the case IOO A, the key of this lock being in charge of the person responsible for lling the magazine. A metal band a2 is iitted at the top of the case A for strengthening purposes, the sliding front A passing down inside this band. A strap a3 allows for carrying the magazine about.

Referring now to the delivery-machine,

(shown in Figs. 5, 6,and 7,) a plate I is tted in the base Hand is provided with chamfered guides t' t', into which the chamfered edges of the base-plate C of the magazine are adapted to slide when the magazine is placed in position on the machine. Agroove I is formed in the plate I, extending for almost the Whole length, and an ejeeting-plate J is adapted to slide in the said groove I'. This ejectingplate J is provided with a finger-piece J for operating, and at its forward end a hinged piece j,having a projection j,is fitted. When the magazine is placed on the machine, the projection j fits into the slot e, the magazine pressing the ejectiug-piece j down against the influence of a spring (not shown) While it is being slid into place, and the projection j then iits into the space behind the tickets or checks in the magazine formed by the recessed portion a', as seen in Fig. 5. On the front of the plate I a vertical plate I2 is mounted. Into this plate I2 the key K for operating the lock B is fitted, and upon the key-spindle a small pinion 7e is mounted. A toothed sector k','pivoted at 7a2, gears with the toothed wheel 7c, and by moving the handle 7e3 the sector 7c' is caused to operate the pinion 7a, and the key K is rotated. The lockspindle d is preferably pointed and when the magazine is in place fits into the hollow ofthe key K. On rotating the key the bolt b of the lock B is raised. While the bolt b is raised,

the key K is held in the lock B and cannot be zine. The spring L returns the plate J after each operation. In order to depress the ejecting-piece j to allow of the removal of the magazine, an arm jz is attached to its under side. This arm l7'2 comes normally under the knob M at the side of the machine, and it will be seen that by pressing this knob the arm 7'2 and therefore the hinged piece j are depressed suftieiently to enable the projection j to clear the slot c. An arm N is connected to the ejector-plate J, so as to partake of its movement. This arm carries a roller fn at its outer end and during its movement presses upon a spring O. This causes a gradual movement around its pivot of the arm o, to which .with the receiving-machine.

the spring O is attached, and the pin 0 acts upon the teeth of the wheel 02. The wheel o2 is therefore moved one tooth for each operation of the ejector-plate J as the arm o is withdrawn after each operation and the pin 0 is ready to act upon the next tooth. Upon the same spindle a wheel o3, having one tooth o, is mounted, and this gears with a wheel 05, having ten teeth, so that this wheel o5 is rotated once in ten revolutions of the wheel 03. A Wheel o, having one tooth 07, gears With the Wheel 08, having ten teeth. These wheels o3 05 o8 serve for registering the units, tens, and hundreds, respectively, which are indicated by the pointers over the dials o9 010 ou. The spring O' regulates the step-by-step movement of the wheel 02.

The electric indicating device illustrated in Figs. 10, ll, and 12'Works in conjunction The indicator is fitted in the managers or secretarys room and serves t'o indicate the number ot tickets sold in all parts. Electric counting mechanism is provided in connection with each delivery-machine, and these mechanisms are mounted in the case I), Fig. lO, preferably hung upon the wall, the pointers showing through openingsp upon a tabulated register.

The electrical contacts from the deliverymachine are arranged as follows, although it will of course be understood that any other convenient and suitable contact devices may be iitted. The terminals Q Q', Fig. 7, are mounted on the casings, these being connected by wires with the terminals of the corresponding indicator. The terminals Q Q are insulated from one another, so that normally no current passes. As the ejectorplate J is moved to issue a ticket or check the spring O is pressed toward the counting mechanism, as hereinbefore described, and its end which is provided with a contactpiece q comes in contact with the contactspring q' and presses it upon the terminal Q, thus making electric contact by means of the springs q with the terminal Q. The circuit is therefore completed and the corresponding indication mechanism is operated, so that each time a ticket or check is issued such issue is shown on the indicator.

The indicating mechanism in the indicator P from each delivery and receiving machine is similar,and one mechanism only,therefore, is illustrated and described. On Fig. ll the front plate and indicator are supposed to be removed. The wires from the corresponding IOO IIO

IZO

delivery-machine are connected to suitable S and moves it one tooth. A spring S', suitably shaped, engages in the teeth of the wheel S and regulates its movement. On the spindie s of the wheel S awheel S2 is mounted, so as to partake of its'ino'veme'nt, and this has a single tooth s'. Upon the spindle s2 a Wheel S3, having ten recesses on its periphery, is mounted, and for each're'volution of the wheel S2 the tooth s engages in one of the recesses and moves the wheel S3 one recess. Upon the spindle s2 a wheel S4, similar to the wheel S2, is mounted, having a single tooth s3, adapted to engage with the recesses on the wheel S5, similar to the wheel S2, mounted on the spindle s4. Upon the spindles s s2 s4 indicatin g-poin ters T T' T2 are mounted, working over dials upon the outside of the case. Each time a ticket or check'is issued or received the corresponding solenoids R R are energized,and the pointer T is moved one division,

the tens and hundreds being indicated by the` pointers T T2.

To allow for adjusting the dials to zero, an operating -knob U permits of turning the Apointers quickly to zero, the wheelsbeing turned forward. A knob U is also fitted in the case of the delivering-machine, as shown in Fig. 7. 1 j

Sets of dials corresponding to the number of delivering-machines to be indicated are arranged upon the front of the indicator P, and the pointers T T T2 indicate upon the said dials the number of tickets or checks issued or collected in all parts. Preferably the front of the case is arranged so that the mechanism can be got at by the manager or person in charge and set at zero or any number required.

In the case of the indicating mechanism for half-price tickets and transfers for theaters and the like separate dials are necessary; but the mechanism is similar.

It willfof course be understood .that the contact devices in use can be varied somewhat in construction without departing from this invention.

In using this invention the ticket or check magazines are distributed to the ticket-sellers. The magazines are then placed on the delivering orissuingmachines,through which only the tickets or checks can be obtained. The ticketsare preferably shot out in front of a glass or Wire screen, so that the ticketseller does noty touch them at all, and the counter shows the number of tickets or checks issued. -The check taker or collector is provided with a receiving-machine not forming part of this invention, into which the tickets or checks are inserted as collected, and the counter of this machine should indicate the same as the issuing-machine. indication from both of these machines is provided in the managers or secretarys room or other suitable place, so that the number of tickets or checks issued and received from after operation.

An electrical By means of this system of checking as well as registering the number of tickets or checks an Aarrangement is providedwhich effectnally` prevents any dishonesty, as the checks or tickets are registered both ondelivery and on collecting, the registering device automatically indicating sale and ref ceipt of checks or ticketsin the managers oflice. Thus a perfect check can be kept as to the number of persons in a theater or various parts of a theater or any other place in which the apparatus is used. n y

Although this invention has been described more especially for vtheatrical and like pur# poses, it will be understood that it can also be applied for all kinds of public places and for sporting-grounds, (itc. Further, some of the details of mechanism can be varied slightly without departing from this invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A delivery apparatus for tickets or checks, comprisin ga magazine containing the tickets, a lock upon the lower end of the said magazine closing a delivery-aperture when the magazine is out of delivering position, racks on the inner sides of the magazine, a weightrest upon the checks having spring-arms engaging the racks, a casing on which the magazine is fitted having means by which the lock of the magazine may be opened when in position, an ejecting-plate in the said casing operating through a slot in the magazine to eject the lowest ticket or check, and counting mechanism connected tothe ejectingi piece, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In' a delivery apparatus for tickets or checks, the combination with a magazine containing the tickets `having a lock upon its lower end normally closing the delivery-aperture, internal yracks and a Weight with arms engaging the said racks and resting upon the tickets, of acasing receiving the magazinef upon its upper side, a lock-operating device on the casing by which the lock may be opened when the magazine is in position, a sliding ej ecting-plate carried by the said casing adapted to eject the lowest ticket through a slot in the magazine, a spring returning the ejector when released, counting mechanism placed within the casing, a ratchet-Wheel ac tuating the counting mechanism, an arm with pin engaging the ratchet-Wheel and an exten-- sion on the ejecting-plate operating the said arm and through it thecounting mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a delivery apparatus fortickets, the combination with a magazine containing the tickets and means for ejecting the same, of a counting apparatus having a ratchet-Wheel and a pawl-lever engaging the ratchet-wheel, a spring upon the said lever, electrical contact-piece upon the end of the spring, a second contact carried by the casing of the apparatus, electrical connections to the con- IOO IIO

tacts, and an arm upon the ejeeting mechan- I In witness whereof I have set my hand in ism bearing upon the spring adapted when the presence of two Witnesses. the ejecting part is moved to press back the 1 r spring, bringr the electrical contactus togeth e1' l ALBERT MARSH 5 to give a signal, and operate the paWI-mm, In presence ofsubstantially in the manner described and l shown and for the purposes specified.

FRANK WILLIAM PATTISON, HERBERT J AMES CRAGG. 

